Routes to better public health?

At last week’s Mid Suffolk and Babergh Joint Scrutiny Committee (that I chair) we looked at how district councils can make a positive impact on the public health of residents in our areas. We heard from council representatives on the Suffolk-wide Health & Wellbeing Board, Suffolk County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee and also the Chief Executive of Healthwatch – the organisation that puts forward the views of the public on how health and social care services are delivered in order to improve those experiences.

bbFour key points were raised as areas for action – using councillors influence to drive change; working with troubled families; local dementia and isolation; and rural transport. The latter cut across many of the health issues – from travel to GPs, hospital etc at different times of day and night to general rural isolation issues that meant residents can’t access the services they need to improve their lifestyles. We do need to get some solutions for this and Councillors will be looking into what can be done to improve this at future meetings.b